Loading device.



-W. F. LENHARD.

LOADING DEVIOE. APPLICATION FILED mm: 4. 190a.

PatntedApr. 27, 1909.

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LOADING DEVICE APPLIOA'IION FILED JUNE 4, 1908. Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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WILLIAM'F. LENHARQOF DARWIN, MINNESOTA.

LOADING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2'7, 1909.

Application filed. June 4, 1908. Serial No. 436,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. LENHARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Darwin, in the county of Meeker, State of.

Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LoadingDevices;

and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention has reference to loading devices, and it aims,generally, to provide an exceedingly simple, durable and eiiicientdevice of that nature designed especially for loading manure.

To this end, the invention briefly described, comprises a portablederrick provided with an inclined runway, whose upper end is extendedrearwardly, and a fork arranged to travel upon the runway and adapted tobe tilted when it reaches the extended end thereof, to dump its contentsinto a wagon or upon the ground at a particular spot, as the case maybe.

The invention resides more especially however, in the particularconstruction of the derrick and the runway carried thereby and in theattachment to the derrick frame of a pair of levers arranged forswinging movement in parallel vertical planes, so as to move the groundwheels with which they are provided into and out of engagement with theground, said wheels occupying the former position when the loadingdevice is.

in operation, and the latter position during its movement from place toplace.

The invention further resides in the particular construction of thefork, in the provision of rollers for facilitating the downward movementof the fork upon the runway, and in the particular devices employed foreffecting the movement of the fork.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are desig natcd bythe same reference numerals throughout the,several views, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the loader, showing the fork inposition at the foot of the runway. Fig. 2 is a vertical section,showing the fork at the top of the runway in the position which itassumes at the completion of its tilting movement. Flg.

3 is a side elevation of the loader in position" for transportation.Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view ofthe fork. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section therethrough. Fig. 7is a front elevation of the fork. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a scraperadapted for use in connection with the fork. Fig. 9 is a detail view ofthe wheel-carrying levers. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the supplementalbrace illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1, 1, designate theconverging vertical beams of the derrick frame whose upper and lowerends are connected together by the cross-beams 2 and 3, the beam 3having its opposite ends resting upon and secured to the side beams 4:of the derrick frame, to which beams the beams 1 are likewise attachedat their lower ends. The rear ends of the beams 4: project beyond thebeams 1 and are rounded or beveled upwardly at such polnts, to formrunners 5, while their front ends are fastened to the side beams 6of-the. upwardly-inclined runway 7, whose jupper end is secured to thebeams 1 intermediate their ends, extending therebetween, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, to form a platform 8', said runway tapering gradually inwidth from its lower to its upper end. The

runway is strengthened by a series of parallel horizontal-braces 9 whichare secured to its under face, while the lower portion of its outer facehas fastened thereto, a metal wear plate-l0, as shown in Fig. '1, thelower .arms of the frame, said arms being further provided at their endswith alining openings through which the shaft 12 passes.

Owing to their attachment to the shaft 12, the levers 11 are capable ofa swinging movement in parallel vertical planes, carrying with them theground wheels, as will be apparent. When, therefore, said levers areswung upwardly toward the runway, the

wheels will be raised from the ground, while the lower edge of therunway will be brought into contact therewith, and when the levers aremoved in the opposite direction, or toward the cross-beam 3, the wheelswill be brought into contact with the ground and the runway edge raisedthereabove. To retain the levers in either position, the beam 3 and oneof the braces 9 are provided respectively with swinging catches 16and 1. which are movableinto and out of engagement with the levers.

The fork which is adapted to travel upon the runway and is operated by acable 18, as hereinafter described, comprises a handle 19 and a seriesof tines 20 whose upturned rear ends are bolted to a cross-piece 21 towhich the lower end of the handle is rigidly secured. In the presentinstance, seven tines are shown, the two outer tines and the centraltine projecting some distance beyond the cross-piece 21 and having theircurved eX- tremities secured to the top member of an open rectangularframe 22, whose lower member is disposed beneath the several tines,which latter are riveted thereto. During its downward movement upon therunway, the rear end of the fork is supported upon a pair of rollers 23rotatably mounted upon the free ends of the legs 24: of an invertedU-shaped frame 25, formed of strap iron. Intermediate their ends, thelegs 2% are provided with perforations 26 in which are pivotally engagedthe hooked ends of a wire bail 27 provided intermediate its ends with aneye 28, the lower portions of said legs being bent so as to extendoutwardly of the tines and below the same, as shown.

The operating cable 18 above referred to, is secured at one end to thecross-beam 2, is led downwardly and passed around a pulley 29 whoseblock is connected with the eye 28,. and is finally led upwardly andpassed over a pulley 30 carried by a block suspended from saidcross-beam, the free end of the cable being then led downwardly topermit its attachment to a whiflie-tree, (not shown).

In the operation of the device the wheel carrying levers 11 are raisedand engaged with the upper catches 17 after which the manure iscollected upon the fork in the usual manner and the draft animalshitched to the Whittle-tree. As the animals move away from the derrick,the fork will be caused to travel upwardly along the runway, the tinesof the fork being held in approximately horizontal position by means ofthe rollers 23, which latter are secured to the legs of the frame 25located toward the rear ends of the tines. As the fork reaches theplatform 8, the fork is tilted, as shown in Fig. 2, under the tension ofthe operating cable, the rear ends of the tines being raised and theirfront ends lowered, thus dumping the manure upon the ground at theparticular spot selected. or into a wagon, as the case .y be, it beingunderstood that the wagon when used. is backed up sutliciently close tothe derrick frame to permit the fork to discharge its contentsthereinto. \Vhcn a sufficient quantity has been col lected either uponthe ground or in the wagon, the fork is raised into the position shownin Fig. 8, and its operating cable wound around an upwardly bent U-shaped frame 31 secured to one of the braces S) at the rack of therunways, the fork being thus retained in its raised position. The levers11 are then lowered and engaged with the catches 16 on the cross-beam3,bringing the ground wheels 15 into operative position in contact withthe ground and raising the lower edge of the runway above the ground, asshown in the last mentioned figure. 'lhe derrick is then moved toanother spot, the draft chains (not shown) being connected to the lowerends of the beams l. or to the side beams 1-. As the manner of etleetingthe bodily movement of the derrick, however, forms no part of thepresent inventien, illustration thereof is accordingly omitted. Duringthe tune that the device is actually in operation, it is held against:movement by a guy rope 32 which is fastened to the ends of thecross-beam 2, this rope being wound around the beams 1 when the derrickis moved from one place to am other. The derrick frame is preferablyprovided with a pair of wire cables 32 which are fastened at their upperends to h top beam 2 and at their lower ends to he front ends of theside beams 11-, the cables ending to strengthen the derrick frame. aswill be apparent.

It is to be understood that the machine may be used with equal facilityin loading the manure into a. wagon instead of at a particular spot uponthe ground, as the wagon may be backed up sutlieiently close to thederrick frame to enable the fork to dump its contents thereinto.

Where it is desired to load dirt, gravel, or the like. which is tineenough to pass be: tween the lines of the fork, the latter may beprovided with a shield 34;, which is fitted over the tines and is heldin place by straps secured thereto, the side edges of the shield havingopenings, in which hooks secured to thearms of the brace 16 are engaged.The forwz rd edge is provided with a steel scraper.

During the time that the apparatus is actually in operation, it may befurther supported and held against displacement by the supplementalbrace illustrated in Fig. 1, said brace comprising a beam 35 whose upperend is connected with the upper ends of the beams 1, 1, by means of aV-shaped frame 30, the sides of which receive the lit) .lllt) beam 35between their rear ends, the connection between the latter beam and theframe being edected by a bolt 37 arranged for interchangeable engagementin one of a series of openings 38 formed through said beam What isclaimed is:

1. In a portable loading device, the combination, with a derrick and aninclined runway secured thereto, of a carrier arranged for movement uponthe runway; means for operating the carrie'; a pair of wheel-carryingmembers pivotally connected with the derrick and movable in parallelvertical planes, for raising and lowering the lower edge of the runway;and separate means for retaining said members in raised and loweredposition. x V I In a portable loading device, the combination, with aderrick, comprising a pair of spaced vertical beams, upper and lowercross-beams connecting the ends of the vertical beams, and aforwardly-extending side beam secured to the lower end of each verti-*al beam, of an inclined runway secured at its upper end to saidvertical beams and at its lower end to the forward ends of said sidebeams; a carrier arranged for movement upon said runway; means foroperating said carrier; a transverse shaft carriediby said side beams;and a pair of rearwardly-extending members connected at their inner endsto said shaft and arranged for move ment in parallel vertical planes,each member being provided adjacent its inner end with a ground wheel,whereby the movement of said members in one direction will raise thelower edge of the runway above the ground, and in the other directionwill lower said edge into contact with the ground.

3. In a portable loading device,'the combination, with a derrick,comprising a pair of spaced vertical beams, upper and lower cross-beamsconnecting the ends of the vertical beams, and a forwardly-extendingside beam secured to the lower end of each vertical beam, of an inclinedrunway secured at its upper end to said vertical beams and at its lowerend to the forward ends of said side beams; a carrier arranged formovement upon said runway; means for operating said carrier; atransverse shaft carried by said side beams; a pair ofrearwardlyextending members connected at their inner ends to said shaftand arranged for movement in parallel vertical planes, each member beingprovided adjacent its inner end with a ground wheel, whereby themovement of said members in one direction will raise the lower edge ofthe runway above the ground, and in the other direction will lower saidedge into contact with the ground; means carried by the runway forengagementwith said members when the latter are in their verticalposition; and separate clined runway secured at its upper end to saidvertical beams and at its lower end to the forward ends of said sidebeams; 21 carrier arranged for movement upon said runway; means foroperating said carrier; a series of braces secured to the under face ofsaid runway; a transverse shaft carried by said side beams; a pair oflevers connected at their inner ends to said shaft and arranged formovement in parallel vertical. planes, each lever being providedadjacent its inner end with a rotatable ground wheel,

whereby the movement of said levers in one direction will raise thelower edge of the runwayabove the ground, and in the other directionwill lower said edge into contact with the ground; a pair of catchessecured to one of said braces and adapted for engagement with saidlevers when the latter are in their vertical position; and a pair ofcatches secured to the lower cross-beam and adapted for engage nent withsaid levers when the latter are in their horizontal position.

In a loading device, the combination, with a derrick, and an inclinedrunway secured thereto, of a fork arranged for travel upon the runwayand including a series of tines, a cross-piece to which the rear ends ofthe tines are secured, an inverted U-shaped frame connected with thetines intermediate their ends, and a roller secured to the free end ofeach leg of the frame; and means for operating the fork.

6. In a loading device, the combination, with a derrick, and an inclinedrunway scoured thereto, ofa fork arranged for travel upon the runway andincluding a series of tines, a cross-piece to which the rear ends of thetines are secured, an open rectangular frame to whose lower member thetines are secured intermediate their ends, an inverted U-shaped framehaving its legs bent outwardly beyond the outer tines, and a pair ofrollers secured to the free ends of the legs of said frame; and meansfor operating the fork.

7. In a loading device, the combination, with a derrick, and an inclinedrunway secured thereto, of a fork arranged for travel upon the runwayand including a series of tines, a cross-piece to which the rear ends ofthe tines are secured, an open rectangular frame to whose lower memberthe tines are secured intermediate their ends, an inverted U-shapedframe having its legs perforated intermediate their ends, the lowerportions of said legs bent outwardly beyond the outer tines, and a pairof rollers secured to the free ends of said legs; a bail having its endspivotally engaged in the perforations in said legs; and an operatingcable having one end thereof secured to said bail.

S. In a loading device, the combination, with a derrick and an inclinedrunway se cured thereto, ot' a fork arranged to travel upon the runwayand including a series of tines, a cross-piece to which the rear ends ofthe tines are secured, an inverted U-shaped frame connected with thetines intermediate their ends, and a roller secured to the free end ofeach leg of the frame; means for operating the fork; and a pair ofwheelcarrying members pivotally connected with the derrick and movablein parallel vertical planes, for raising and lowering the lower edge ofthe rnnwav.

9. In a portable loading device, the combi l nation, witn a derrick,comprising a pair of spaced vertical beams, upper and lower cross-beamsconnecting the ends of the vertical beams, and a forwardly-extendingside beam secured to the lower end of the vertical beam, of an inclinedrunway secured at its upper end to said vertical beam and at its lowerend to the forward ends of said side beams; a fork arranged to travelupon the runway and including a series of tines, a cross-piece to whichthe rear ends of the tines are secured, an inverted U-shapcd frameconnected with the tines intermediate their ends, and a roller securedto the tree end of each leg of the frame; means for operating the fork;a transverse shaft carried by said side beams; and a pair of rearwardlyextending members connected at their inner ends to said shaft andarranged for movement in parallel vertical planes, each member beingprovided adjacent its inner enduvith a ground wheel, whereby themovement of said members in one direction will raise the lower edge ofthe runway above the ground, and in the other direction will lower saidedge into contact with the ground.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signzt ture, in presence of twowitnesses.

\VILLIAM F. LEi I-TA RI). lVitnesses.

OLE. Benson, BENN G. Bansox.

